Other details:Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscapingAverage Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwaterThis plant may be considered a protected species; check before digging or gathering seedsSuitable for growing in containers

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Gardeners' Notes:

Central Phoenix -- Aloe variegata grows well in my garden in shade of a deciduous tree with water once a month in summer and none in winter. It has been in this location since 1991, has moderately suckered, and blooms reliably. It is unprotected in winter and has weathered several hard frosts with no damage. I have also tried it in full shade, where it has survived, but not prospered.

Plant is easy to grow if kept in well-drained soil and not over-watered. They grow in the dry regions of South Africa and S. Namibia. In the Karoo, I've seen them growing almost all the time in or under small bushes. They usually flower end winter, early spring. They are easy to cultivate from seed.

Coastal Otago, New Zealand zone 9ish
Having just gone out in the middle of winter to move some of my other more diva-ish aloes, I noticed that my partridge aloe (potted) seems to be impervious to cold, not to mention hail, the other succulent enemy we have to deal with on a regular basis down here. It also seems a little larger and more luxuriant than those in the pics supplied, and I can only put this down to regular thorough watering, since it gets no other attention. Its definitely the same variety. Its sat out all winter through storms, minor frosts and week-long soakings.
It's so pretty with its painted-on-looking markings, but I take mine completely for granted since purchasing it's great grandmother around 10 years ago and busily distributing her offsets ever since. Ive had up to ten offsets at one time, all rooting easily and going on to flourish.
A great beginner aloe, or a plant for a child that shows an interest in gardening. They look great massed as a low border in a succulent bed and being pretty nonspiky, they lend themselves to high traffic areas.
Ive found theyre not too keen on being roasted in hi UV situations tho', so give them a little shade in high summer.

Very easy to grow aloe (though have rotted my share of these), and one of the most commonly sold in nurseries (at least in Southern California). Completely smooth plant with only the tiniest white, firm, blunt teeth. Leaves tend to be thick and triangular with a 'V' shape in cross section. Leaf margins, where dinky teeth are, have wide, ornamental white line. Spotting on leaves is often in horizontal bands in a 'tiger-stripe' pattern. Flowers are pinkish to pale red, either compact (high light situations) or spread out (low light situations) but usually single or possibly with a single branch, and here in So Cal come out mid winter.

Seed of this species differs from most other aloes in having very large 'wings' presumably to increase wind dispersion. Each seed pod is crammed full of little seeds in large, flat semiclear envelopes.